Cathode casing of electrolyzer for producing aluminium

ABSTRACT

A CATHODE CASING OF AN ELECTROLYZER FOR PRODUCING ALUMINUM WHICH CASING CONSISTS OF A BOX STRUCTURE HAVING EXTERNAL HORIZONTAL BEAMS DISPOSED ALONG TRANSVERSE SIDES AND BOTTOM OF THE BOX STRUCTURE AND HAVING VERTICAL BEAMS DISPOSED ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL SIDES THEROF. THE VERTICAL BEAMS ARE HINGED WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX STRUCTURE, WHILE THE LOWER ENDS OF THESE BEAMS ARE INTERCONNECTED IN PAIRS THROUGH SPACER MEMBERS.

Nov. 14, 1972 v. P. NIKIFOROV HAL 3,70

CATHODE CASING OF ELECTROLYZER FOR 1 RODUCING ALUMINIUM F1106 April 22, 1971 2 Sheets'F-Sheet 1 Nov. 14, 1972 v. P. NIKIFOROV EI'AL 3,70

CATHODE CASING or mwcmomzsn FOR rnonucme ALUMINIUM Filed April 22, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet z II'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIA United States Patent 3,702,815 CATHODE CASING OF ELECTROLYZER FOR PRODUCING ALUMINIUM Vladimir Pavlovich N ikiforov, Vasily Nikolaevich Zaitsev, Viktor Stepanovich Khomyakov, Ilia Genrikhovich Kil, and Igor Kirillovich Tsybukov, Leningrad, U.S.S.R., assignors to Vsesoiuzny nauchno-issledovatelsky i Proektny institut aljuminievoi, magnievoi i Elektrodnoi Promyshlennosti, Leningrad, U.S.S.R.

Filed Apr. 22, 1971, Ser. No. 136,524 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Aug. 19, 1970, 1,461,601/70 Int. Cl. C22d 3/02; B01k 3/04 US. Cl. 204-243 R 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cathode casing of an electrolyzer for producing aluminium which casing consists of a box structure having external horizontal beams disposed along transverse sides and bottom of the box structure and having vertical beams disposed along the longitudinal sides thereof. The vertical beams are hinged with the bottom of the box structure, while the lower ends of these beams are interconnected in pairs through spacer members.

The present invention relates to improvement in the field of production of aluminium from alumina and, more particularly, the invention relates to cathode casings of electrolyzers for producing aluminium.

The present invention can be most effectively used for producing aluminium by means of electrolysis. (It can be used, however, for producing also other nonferrous metals.

A cathode casing having a lining with a carbon base is one of the most important components of the electrolyzer for producing aluminium, and determines the life of the electrolyzer. It is well known that the carbon base of the casing lining expands not only due to a high temperature also considerably due to the impregnation of the carbon blocks by fluoric salts. The expansion of the carbon blocks results in causing considerable forces acting on the walls of the cathode casing.

The analysis of the operation of the cathode casings of various types and dimensions has shown that the life of the electrolyzer depends on the rigidity of the cathode casing.

Known in the art are cathode casings for electrolyzers for producing aluminium, made in the form of a box which is mounted by means of beams on the supporting columns of the foundation and having external horizontal beams disposed along the transverse sides and bottom and having vertical beams disposed along the longitudinal sides. In this case the opposite vertical beams are interconnected in pairs at their medium section by steel bars extending under the bottom of the box. The lower ends of these beams are secured to sockets provided in the foundation and are lined by electroinsulating plates.

In the known cathode casings the presence of elongated steel bars having considerable deformation due to their excessive length as well as the presence of comparatively long vertical beams reduce the rigidity of the casing, and therefore, reduce the electrolyzer life. In addition, the use of the bars is associated with an increased consumption of structural metal, while the load carrying capacity of the bottom in this case is not completely utilized. The mounting of the lower ends of the vertical beams in the sockets of the foundation, and electrical insulation of the beams from the foundation makes the device electrically dangerous for the operating personnel and is associated with additional difficulties when dismantling the cathode casing for major overhaul.

3,702,815 Patented Nov. 14, 1972 An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages.

The main object of the invention is to provide a cathode casing having a long life and requiring a minimum of materials for its manufacture and being suitable for application in high-power electrolyzers.

This invention consists in that the cathode casing of an electrolyzer is made in the form of a box having external horizontal beams disposed along the transverse sides and bottom and having vertical beams disposed along the longitudinal sides, and according to the invention, the bottom has sockets whose number is equal to the number of vertical beams. Extended through these sockets are pins with spherical nuts making a hinge joint of the bottom with the vertical beams the lower ends of which are interconnected in pairs through spacer members.

Such a construction provides for a longer life and minimum consumption of materials for manufacturing the cathode casing and also allows this casing to be used in high-power electrolyzers.

It is expedient that the longitudinal axes of the sockets are located in the bottom plane to prevent the appearance of bending moment on the casing bottom due to the action of the expanding forces.

The spacer members of the vertical beams of the cathode casing are made of reinforced concrete to save metal in making these members and this is very advantageous in the process of mass production of such beams.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of one particular embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the casing according to the invention, partly in section;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2.

The cathode casing consists of a rectangular box 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) welded of sheet steel, the longitudinal sides of the box being provided with angle bars 2 providing the required rigidity for the longitudinal sides of the casing within the span between the vertical beams 3. The transverse sides of the box are strengthened by rigid beams 4 covered with the cover plates 5. In this case the transverse sides operate as beams loosely laying on two supports and uniformly loaded by a distributed load. Such a manner of operation of the transverse sides is provided by the absence of rigid members in the angles of the casing. The rigidity of the casing bottom is provided by flanged beams 6 through which the casing bears upon foundation structures. Provided in the bottom of the casing are sockets 7 (FIGS. 3, 4) for pins 8 and nuts 9 with spherical support faces by means of which the vertical beams 3 are secured on the longitudinal walls of the casing. The sockets for pins are welded into the plane of the casing bottom and eliminate the possibility of appearance of the bending moments due to the action of expanding forces on the bottom.

The lower portions of the vertical beams have pockets into which are placed horizontal beams 10 made of reinforced concrete and serving as spacer members. In the longitudinal walls of the box there are provided windows 11 (FIG. 1) to accommodate the ends of the steel blooms secured into the angle units of the lining of the casing. The pins 8 through the bottom connect the vertical beams 3 in pairs, the reinforced concrete beams 10 being located between the lower ends of these beams. Under the action of the carbon blocks on the longitudinal walls of the box the load is transmitted to the upper portions of the beams and is taken by the reinforced concrete beams and pins connected with the bottom of the casing. The reinforced concrete beams (spacer members) operate as compression elements, while the pins operate as expansion elements. The pins, in turn, through the sockets 7 transmit the load to the casing bottom. The bottom taking the load makes it possible to eliminate the long bars used in the known cathode casings, which bars have considerable deformation in an elastic stage, thus reducing the rigidity of the casing. Spherical support faces are provided on the nuts and sockets for self-adjustment of each pin, thus eliminating the possibility of bending the pins during the deformation of the box.

We claim:

1. A cathode casing of an electrolyzer for producing aluminum which casing consists of a box structure having transverse and longitudinal sides; a bottom; horizontal beams disposed along the transverse side and bottom; vertical beams disposed along said longitudinal sides to extend below the level of said bottom, said bottom, along longer sides thereof, having sockets the number of which is equal to the number of said vertical beams; pins extending through said sockets and equipped with spherically seated nuts providing hinged connection of said bottom References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,846,3 88 8/ 1958 Morel 204-243 R 2,861,036 11/ 195 8 Simon-Suisse 204-243 R 3,421,995 1/ 1969 Morel et al 204-243 R X 3,494,851 2/ 1970 Cauvin, Ir 204243 R JOHN H. MACK, Primary Examiner D. R. VALENTINE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 204286 

